Right: Assemblywoman Sandra Galef talks to Nanuet seventh-graders. Photos by Maria R. Bastone.

Leave it to a bunch of well-informed 12- and 13-year-olds to put some real heat on their elected officials.

That's what happened when Nanuet's seventh-graders took part in a mock Assembly unit that featured a lively Q&A session with their four local state Assembly members.

Students did their homework. They grilled legislators on everything from whether the local Indian Point nuclear plant should be closed to something even closer to home: a bill that would raise the driving age for teen-agers.

Assembly members Sam Colman, Sandra Galef, Alex Gromack and Richard Brodsky fielded the questions with grace and candor.

While many students voiced concerns over the safety of Indian Point's evacuation plans, Galef explained how closing the plant would have serious economic ramifications on a local school district which gets half of its tax money from the plant.

"The superintendent attended and was stunned by the depth of the kids' questions," said English teacher Lee Cutler. "But I wasn't surprised at all. It just shows that, given the opportunity, they're ready to tackle serious issues."

Bringing it closer to home

The Rockland County district's program builds on work by former middle school social studies teacher Phil Carbone, who started a model Congress unit there several years ago. Carbone, who now teaches at the high school, mentored the seventh-grade team on how to make it into a more local experience like the mock Assembly.

Assemblyman Richard Brodsky talks about the political process.

The team, all members of Nanuet Teachers Association, included Cutler, Mike Henderson, Amy Gicewicz, Joanne Fastiggi and Beth Henshaw. Media specialist Dana Roberto helped coordinate research.

The school's 165 seventh-graders were assigned to 38 "Assembly districts" and spent about four weeks pursuing "relevant, interesting, controversial and researchable" topics. Each district submitted its best proposal, plus arguments for and against. English-class committees reviewed initiatives and voted on the four best to go to a mock Assembly in February.

"This lengthy process was used to illustrate that there are many, many proposals, but only a small fraction ever get debated," Cutler said. The exercise was aligned with the English Language Arts standards, in which students take research from many documents and put it into coherent thought.

As part of their research, students e-mailed questions to Assembly members. That worked so well that students wanted to meet their real representatives.

It came together with the help of many. "Union leaders from other districts like (North Rockland's) Dennis Tracey, (Pearl River's) Bill Anton and (Yonkers') Steve Frey attended or helped us make connections," said Cutler, a New York State United Teachers political activist and Board member.

The Nanuet TA sponsored a reception for students and legislators. "For the first time I was able to talk with students about my work with NYSUT's Committee of 100 and the importance of education funding," said Cutler.

In mid-May, the unit will culminate with a visit to the Capitol arranged through Gromack's office.

"Too many students feel like politics don't affect them, but this kind of work shows how it impacts their daily lives," said NYSUT President Tom Hobart. "We'd also hope this might spark some future political activism or an interest in public service."

Apparently, it already has: A couple weeks after the visit with legislators, student Kayla Cappiello went on a PTA lobby day to Albany to make the case for more aid for after-school programs.

- Sylvia Saunders

Politics on the Web

Trivia question: What's Chuck Schumer's favorite food?

You can find out on the U.S. senator's Kids' Page section of his Web site, www.schumer.senate.gov.

For other sites specifically geared for students, the state Assembly's Kids' Page, www.assembly.state.ny.us, is fact-filled and fun, with coloring pages, a word search and a virtual tour of the Assembly chamber.

You may link to these and other informational sites on U.S. Congress, state government and the state Senate via NYSUT's Web site, www.nysut.org.

NYSUT.org. Copyright New York State United Teachers. 800 Troy-Schenectady Road, Latham, New York, 12110-2455. 518.213.6000. http://www.nysut.org. For questions about this web site, contact the webmaster at bthomas@nysutmail.org.